Given there is now an identified shortfall in housing provision arising from the draft local plan, the suitability of the site must be reconsidered having regard to the housing shortfall. In doing so, it is evident that the development of this site would not result in adverse impacts that would significantly or demonstrably outweigh the benefits. The site should there be allocated in the local plan to assist in more fully meeting the identified housing need of the district.

The site is located adjacent to the edge Chichester City, which as discussed above, is the most sustainable settlement in the district. The site therefore represents a suitable location for development, in accordance with the spatial strategy and is close to key services.

As clarified at the recent application and appeal, the development of the site would have no impact on the capacity of the A27 or wastewater treatment that cannot be mitigated. The site is not in an area constrained by water neutrality. The site is not constrained by any of the reasons given at paragraph 5.2.11 of the Sustainability Appraisal as to why housing needs cannot be met in full.

The only constraint referred to in the latest HELAA assessment of the site is noise as a result of proximity to Goodwood Airfield. During the appeal, the inspector did not dispute that an average 55dB noise level over a 16 hour period would not be exceeded in external amenity areas. This noise exposure standard is referred to in national guidance and as the benchmark noise threshold for external amenity areas in adopted local planning policies, such as Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. Satisfactory internal noise levels can be achieved through detailed building design. As a result, it is considered that this site is suitable for development, having regard to noise constraints.

Additionally, Policy A17 of the emerging Local Plan refers to development being unacceptable within a 400m buffer of Goodwood Aerodrome. The eastern edge of Raughmere Farm is not within this buffer.

The recent appeal decision relating to the site refers to a deterioration of the rural character of the site and a diminution of the gap separating Chichester and Lavant. Berkeley considers that through an amended scheme design, the rural character and gap can be preserved. The HELAA raised no landscape objections to the site.

The appeal inspector concluded that the proposed development of the site was not acceptable in landscape and noise terms and that the Council were able to demonstrate a 5 year land housing supply, meaning that the harm identified was not outweighed by the housing delivery and other benefits of the development at that time. However, it is evident now that the Council are unable to meet their housing need and so the benefit of development in this respect should be given more weight than the harm caused by any perceived landscape or other impacts.

As such, the perceived impacts of development at Raughmere Farm can be mitigated and are therefore not considered to outweigh the need for increased housing delivery in the District. The site is therefore suitable and available for development and should be allocated in the local plan to more fully meet the district housing need.